Saw a Police Trade-in, Astra .38 Special, with a 3" barrel, N frame, for sale. It looks to have a pinned barrel and recessed cylinder. Are they a good buy at $239. Does anyone
have experience with this revolver?

Just looked them up.
You must be looking at the Venezuelan police guns at Robertsons?
$239. Interesting. I could see going for one at that price.
As everyone knows, 3" is the ultimate barrel length.

__________________
-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

I have no first-hand experience with Astra revolvers only their pistols, but based on what I know, you can’t go wrong at 239. Astra started as one of the many Eibar gunmakers in the early 20th century and was one of the few who survived and prospered, with an excellent reputation in Europe.

It’s a bit unusual to encounter one here as a “police trade-in”, but if it is mechanically sound and tight, it should make an excellent shooter at that price.

PS: Venezuelan? That makes more sense

Yes, the Venezuelan ones at Robertson's. Looks like a lot of gun, for the money, as long as it goes "bang" every time I pull the trigger. I might just take a chance on one.

Let us know how it does. I have noticed those too.

The Astra 44 magnum was good enough that John Jovino chose it to build one of his custom offerings on it.

I have one I bought about a year ago but I haven't shot it yet. I had seen the N frame claim and measured the cylinder - it is almost exactly the same as an L frame. Perhaps the grip frame is N size but not the cylinder.

Anyway, seems like a pretty robust gun for a .38. There are quite a few on GB, not just from Robertson's.

I have one Astra 44.


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It shoots great and it also has a pinned barrel and recessed cylinder.


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I pulled out some of my guns and did some measuring for comparison. (click on the pic for a larger version)




The dimensions below are the cylinder diameter, followed by the cylinder length.

Astra .44 (upper left) - 1.715x1.770
Astra .38 (upper right) - 1.570x1.773
S&W M29 (lower left) - 1.706x1.700
S&W M581 (lower right) - 1.556x1.625
S&W M13 (not shown) - 1.442x1.675
S&W Heavy Duty .38 (not shown) - 1.700x1.573

Note that the Astras both have recessed cylinders, as well as the Model 13. The Model 29, 581 and Heavy Duty are not recessed. Even accounting for that, the Astra .38 cylinder is notably longer than the S&W M581 .357 cylinder. I've seen an Astra .357 Police on GB with 3" barrel and adjustable sights - I'm guessing it's probably the same frame and cylinder as the .38.

Wonder if you could ream the cylinder out to 357mag?

I actually like the looks of those old blue Astras. They have a nice polish job and more curve to the frame by design. Appears to be a quality built piece.

Wouldn't mind having one, a 3" magnum though.

I purchased two from Robertson's last Summer. Very well made and smooth accurate shooting revolvers. With a very innovative ring in the grip frame that allows you to easily adjust the coil mainspring tension, and a push button yoke retainer that allows for removal of the cylinder without a screw driver.

The only downside is that the wooden grips on my two are "whupped" as we say in Texas and the Rubber grips don't fit exactly.

I think they are the best buy going in handguns currently.

I am seriously considered buying another.

I carry mine in a Threepersons holster for a 3 inch N Frame.

Sort of a Spanish HD 38/44 type revolver.

Me too....

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